The other big radio acquisition of the year was the Times Of India Group buying Virgin Radio off STV, who had been trying to offload the national rock station - through sale or by floating it as its own company on the London Stock Exchange - for some time. Because the Times Of India were competitors of Richard Branson's Virgin Group in the Indian market, and given that he still owned the Virgin Radio brand name, the rock station's new owners had to find a new name.
With the Times Of India's existingUK radio business going by the name Absolute Radio, much thought was put in before deciding to rename Virgin, erm, Absolute Radio. Which they did at the end of September. Much to the annoyance of Absolut vodka, who claim it infringes their trademark because they run a music website of their own. The trademark lawsuit is pending.